Improvement in wire-stretchers for picket-fences



`B'. F. ALKIRE.

improvement in Wire Stretchers for Picket Fences. `1\1o.132,o40.v

` lPatented Oct. 8,'1872.- lo QQ me M^ h f7 1 A 4 Ly Vp.. m i

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PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN F. ALKIBE, OF WILLIAMSPORT, OHIO.

IMPRVEMENT IN WIRE-STRETCHERS FOR PICKET-FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,040, dated October 8, 1872.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. ALKIRE, of Williamsport, in the county of Pickaway and Sta-te of Ollio, haveinvented a new and valuable Improvement in Fences; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon. y

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of an elevated view of my-fence; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

My invention has relation to the building of fences having pickets driven into the ground and supported by twisted wire; and consists in the construction and novel arrange ment of Van apparatus by which the tension of the wires may be properlyT regulated while the fence is beingbuilt or afterward, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing, A A represent two posts, located at a dista-nce apart equal to the length of one side of the eld. B B represent the wires, which are attached to the postAat the proper height and then stretched to, and

- respectively on either side of, the post A, at

the same height. rIo hold the wires B the posts A A are grooved at a a. After embracing the post A the wires are together attached to a rounded post, D, which has its lower end inserted in the ground or in a sill in such a way that the post may be turned. The post D forms a permanent part of the fence, andis sustainedinavertical position at a short distance from the post A by means of the concave block E, in the cavity of which it fits, and the loop F, having its ends passed through said concave block and through the post A. At the point where the loop encircles the post D a groove, b, is formed for its reception. Through the post D at different positions are bored holes d to receive a lever, d', employed in turning and holding the post D in position. When the wires have been arranged preparatory to the fitting of the pickets G, the latter are putin place by inserting them between the wires one after another, driving the lower end of each into the ground. During the arrangement of the pickets the two wires are crossed by means of a T-shaped lever put between them. The wires' are crossed in opposite directions alternately byturningthe T- shaped bar in one direction and then in the other. As the wires become too tight by being crossed, their tension may be diminished by turning the post D. When the lever d comes in contact with the post A the loosening of the wires is terminated. The lever d is, however, capable of being transferred from one of the holes d to another.

WVh-at I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The devices for regulatin-gthe tension offencewires, consisting of the fixed post Al having the loop F and concave bearing-block E, and

the rotary post D having purchase-holes d and the catchflever d', adapted to secure the tension by resting against the post A', in the manner as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. i

BENJAMIN F. ALKIRE.

Witnesses: Y

JOSEPH W. LOWE, BARTON W. HARRIS. 

